Fairy Tail returns to serialization to celebrate 20th anniversary

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Published Apr 7, 2026, 5:31 AM EDT

Hiro Mashima's hit manga returns with new chapters to celebrate its legacy

A color illustration from the Fairy Tail manga featuring the guild members posing for a picture

Before isekai made the fantasy subgenre popular in manga and anime, Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail smashed records and became one of the best-selling manga of all time. The popular series will return to Weekly Shonen Magazine, Kodansha's flagship manga magazine, for a new short serialization commemorating its 20th anniversary.

Originally published from 2006 to 2017, Fairy Tail is set in a world where powerful mages congregate in organizations called guilds. The protagonist, Natsu, possesses an elite form of magic called Dragon Slayer, taught to him by his adoptive father, Igneel, a mighty fire dragon who mysteriously disappears along with the other members of his species. Together with his companions in the Fairy Tail guild, Natsu battles magical threats like the dark wizard Zeref and the all-consuming dragon Acnologia. The series also has subtle connections to Mashima's previous manga, Rave Master. It sparked a prequel, Fairy Tail Zero, and a sequel, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest.

As announced on the official 20th anniversary website, Fairy Tail will return to serialization in Weekly Shonen Magazine, beginning in issue 36/37 of the magazine, which will be released on August 5. No further details have been revealed, but the announcement states that this is a "new story" featuring Natsu and friends. Other anniversary initiatives include limited edition prints and Mashima touring 5 Japanese cities for autograph sessions. Furthermore, the final volume of Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest will be released on April 9.

A promotional image for the Fairy Tail anime featuring Natsu, Lucy, Ezra, and Gray

Fairy Tail became popular thanks to its blend of high-energy shonen battles, a classic fantasy setting, and a surprisingly complex plot that features elements common in Mashima's work, such as time travel. The anime adaptation was long-running, featuring 328 episodes, nine OVAs, and two movies. Fans outside Japan will hopefully be able to read the new chapters of Fairy Tail on Kodansha's K-Manga app.

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